[Skipton]

The Fence Contract.​

Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence
at Government House.
One is from Cabramatta, another is from
Marrickville, and the third is from Shell Cove.
All three go with an official to examine the fence.
The Cabramatta contractor takes out a tape measure
and does some measuring, then works some figures
with a pencil.
"Well," he says, "I figure the job will run about $900,
$400 for materials, $400 for my crew and $100 profit
for me."
The Marrickville contractor also does some measuring
and figuring, then says, "I can do this job for $700.
That's $300 for materials, $300 for my crew and $100
profit for me."
The Shell Cove contractor doesn't measure or figure,
but leans over to the government official and whispers,
"$2,700."
The official, incredulous, says, "You didn't even measure
like the other guys. How did you come up with such a
high figure?"
The Shell Cove contractor whispers back, "$1000 for me,
$1000 for you, and we hire the guy from Marrickville to
fix the fence."
"Done!" Replies the government official.
And that, my fellow tax payers, is how a Government Stimulus plan works.